Shock protecting fender for a ship hull

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a fender comprising a textile envelop surrounding an inflatable chamber, a valve for inflating/deflating said chamber. According to the invention, said textile envelop comprises a central part for receiving said valve and two longitudinal side parts, said side parts being linked together on at least one portion of their length by a junction zone.

The present invention relates to a shock protecting device for a shiphull. These devices are also known as marine fender, shore protectionsystem or fender.

More particularly, the present invention relates to a fender able to besuspended to the ship's rail. However, the invention is not limited tothis type of fender. The fender according to the invention can also beused for protecting docks or for protecting sea access platforms. Seaaccess platforms are provided on many types of boats or ships.

PRIOR ART

Several types of fender used for shock protection are already known.Particularly, molded rubber one block fenders are known. This type offender is very robust and can be used for a long time. However, thistype of fender is heavy and difficult to grasp. Moreover, it is verycumbersome, and it takes a large in the space in the ship's hold whennot used.

Inflatable fenders particularly PVC (polyvinyl chloride) inflatablefenders are also known. This type of fender is lighter than moldedrubber fenders and further takes less place when deflated. However, thistype of fender is breakable and difficult to repair. PVC can de damageddue to friction or scratching or even during shock with the docks. Saltand UV rays also damage PVC.

Textile type fenders comprising an inflatable member are also known. Oneexample of this type of fender is described in the French patentapplication FR 3004417 filed in the name of the inventor of the presentapplication. These fenders are improved fenders compared to inflatablefenders. They are resistant to friction, UV rays and can be easilyrepaired.

However, this type of fender has a drawback like inflatable fenders andmolded rubber fenders. This drawback is due to the cylindrical orspherical shape of the fender. Due to the spherical or cylindrical shapeof the fender, the contact surface between the fender and the ship'shull is limited compared to the fender circumference. It is thusnecessary to use large and huge fenders in order to distribute thepressure on the hull. It is thus necessary to use fenders having a largecircumference.

Huge fenders have several drawbacks. Particularly, it is necessary touse a large amount of materials to produce them. Further, they are verycumbersome and take a large space on the hull sides whereas spacebetween pontoons are often limited compared to the ship dimensions.

The present invention relates to an improved textile type fendercomprising an inflatable member.

The present invention relates to a fender comprising a textile envelopsurrounding an inflatable chamber, a valve for inflating/deflating saidchamber. According to the invention, said textile envelop comprises acentral part for receiving said valve and two longitudinal side parts,said side parts being linked together on at least one portion of theirlength by a junction zone.

A first purpose of the invention is to solve at least one of thedrawbacks of the priori art.

Another purpose of the invention is to provide a fender having aparticular shape, thus improving the ratio: fender contact surface withthe hull/fender thickness.

Another purpose of the invention is to provide a fender which protect alonger hull length compared to known fenders.

Another purpose of the invention is to provide a fender that can be usedfor protecting pontoons or sea access platforms.

Another purpose of the invention is to provide a fender that can beeasily deflated and stocked or put aside.

Still another purpose of the invention is to provide a fender having animproved resistance when compressed and thus providing good shockabsorption.

FIGURES

The present invention and its advantages will be understood based on thefollowing description of two particular embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 1 shows a front view of a first particular embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 2 shows a sectional view along A-A of the first embodiment shown inFIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows a front view of a second embodiment of the invention.

EXAMPLES

The present invention relates to a fender 1 usable for a ship's hull.This fender 1 can also be directly attached to the ship or to the dock,pontoon or similar platform where the ship is stowed.

The fender 1 comprises a textile envelop 2. The textile envelop receivesan inflatable chamber 3. For inflating/deflating the inflatable chamber3, it comprises a valve 4.

According to a first embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the textile envelop 2comprises a central part 5 receiving the valve 4 and two longitudinalside parts 6.

Advantageously, the central part 5 comprises a neck. The valve 4 isprovided on the neck or integrated to the neck. The junction between theneck of the fender and the remaining part of the fender is a barrierpreventing mechanical transmission of traction between said neck and theremaining part of the fender. Accordingly, the textile cannot beremoved. The structure of this neck is described in FR 3004417 thecontent of which is incorporated in the present application byreference.

The two side parts 6 are longitudinal as above-mentioned. Accordingly,these side parts are longer than the other dimensions of the fender. Thetextile envelop 2 has preferably a spherical section or an oblongsection in its two side parts 6.

As shown in the figures, the side parts 6 are linked together by ajunction zone or junction portion 7. The junction 7 extends along thelength of the side parts 6 or along only one portion of their length.

Preferably, the junction 7 is a knitted textile attached to the textileenvelop 2 by stitching. However, the invention is not limited to thisembodiment. It is also possible according to the invention to knit thetextile envelop and the junction zone 7 in a single piece by modifyingthe meshing when knitting the textile envelop 2 or the junction zone 7.

In the embodiments shown in the enclosed figures, the junction zone 7 isa slat textile strap 8. This strap extends essentially along the lengthof the side parts 6.

However, the junction zone 7 can also be made of one or several piecesof strap attached between the side parts 6 at their ends 9 a and 9 b.

When inflating the inflatable chamber 3, the side parts expands andspread apart until the junction 7 is stretched.

In the enclosed figures, the junction zone has a constant width.However, the junction zone can have a decreasing or increasing width.For instance, the junction zone can have a width that increases betweenits two ends 9 a and 9 b, according to its length. In such anembodiment, the junction zone creates an angle between the side parts 6.This is particularly interesting because the resulting fender enables toprotect a larger surface of the hull. For example, the side parts canform together an angle of 0° to 60° (0° and 60° included).

According to FIG. 2, the junction zone 7 comprises a strip 10. The strip10 is attached on the two opposed faces of the junction zone 7. Thestrip 10 increase the stiffness of the junction zone 7. The strip 10strengthens the junction zone 7 towards the forces applied to thejunction 7 by the side parts 6. 7.

In FIG. 2, a fixation member 11 is provided. This fixation member 11 isattached to the junction zone 7. This fixation member is able tocooperate with a groove provided in the ship hull to removably connectthe hull to the fender or to another element.

For example, it is possible to attach the fender 1 to pontoons or otherplatforms when they are equipped with slits.

The fender 1 has a wider contact surface with the hull compared with toknown spherical inflatable fender or rubber molded fenders. In the sametime, the fender 1 is smaller and less thick than known sphericalfenders. Moreover, the contact surface is wider and more homogeneouslydistributed on the hull. This enables to highly decrease the maximalcharge par surface unit applied on the hull.

On the basis of FIG. 3, the side parts 6 are folded. The folded sideparts are linked together by an additional junction zones or additionaljunction portions 12.

These additional junction zones 12 have the same features andfunctionalities as the junction part 7. They can be made of slat textilestraps having a constant or increasing width and extending on one partor all the length of the side parts 6. The connection between theseadditional junction zones 12 with the fender is advantageously the sameas described in reference to the junction 7 with regard to side parts 6.

In FIG. 3, both of the side parts 6 are folded once. However, it ispossible to fold twice each of the side parts. It is also possible tofold only one side part 6 once or twice. It is also possible to foldseveral times one or the two side parts 6.

Accordingly, the fender provides a large contact surface with the ship'shull despite the fact it is relatively small and particularly has asmall thickness compared to spherical fender. Consequently, the maximalcharge per surface unit is decreased owing to the fender according tothe present invention.

Moreover, the fender 1 enables to protect a huge length of the hull onlywith one fender

In order to enable a homogeneous inflating of the inflatable chamber 4inside the textile envelop 2, the inflatable chamber 4 is made of aplastic polymer material like a polyurethane like material, forinstance. This polymer material can have a coefficient of elasticity ofmore than 300%.

The inflatable chamber 4 is advantageously obtained by welding a sheetof plastic polymer. The shape and the size of the inflatable chamber 4depending on the size and geometry of the textile envelop 2.

according to one advantageous aspect of the invention, the inflatablechamber 4 has rounded welds 13 corresponding to the regions where theinflatable chamber has an important radius of curvature. These roundedwelds 13 enables to easily introduced and position the inflatablechamber 4 into the textile envelop 2. Further, they limit compressivestress on the weld in the above-mentioned regions. These regions are,for example, the inside passage 14 between the longitudinal portions andthe additional inside passage 15 between the additional longitudinalportions.

Advantageously, the rounded weld is a weld bead forming a circular arcand having a width comprised between 1 and 3 cm.

When the fender is heated, by the sun, for example, the inflatablechamber can further inflate due to the expansion of the air locatedinside the inflatable chamber 4. To avoid problems due this phenomenon,the textile envelop 2 is preferably made of a material having acoefficient of elasticity between 5 and 15%. This feature prevents formproviding an overpressure valve.

1. Fender comprising a textile envelop surrounding an inflatablechamber, a valve for inflating/deflating said inflatable chamber whereinsaid textile envelop comprises a central part for receiving said valveand two longitudinal side parts, said side parts being linked togetheron at least one portion of their length by a junction zone.
 2. Fenderaccording to claim 1, wherein at least one of the side parts is foldedand wherein said two side parts are linked together by an additionaljunction zone.
 3. Fender according to claim 1, wherein said junctionzone is a knitted textile and wherein said junction zone is sewed tosaid textile envelop.
 4. Fender according to claim 1, wherein saidjunction zone is a flat textile strip extending essentially along thelength of the side parts.
 5. Fender according to claim 1 wherein saidjunction zone has an increasing width between the two end portions ofsaid two side parts.
 6. Fender according to claim 1, wherein saidjunction zone comprises two faces and a strap attached on said twofaces, said strap enabling to increase the stiffness of said junctionzone.
 7. Fender according to claim 1, wherein it further comprises afixation member attached on said junction zone, said fixation memberbeing able to cooperate with a groove provided in a ship's hull. 8.Fender according to claim 1, wherein said inflatable chamber is weldedand wherein it comprises a rounded weld on the rounded portions of saidchamber, said rounded weld facilitating positioning said inflatablechamber inside said textile envelop and limiting efforts on said weld.9. Fender according to claim 8 wherein said weld is a weld bead forminga circular arc.
 10. Fender according to claim 1 wherein said inflatablechamber is made of a polyurethane type polymer having a coefficient ofelasticity of more than 300%.
 11. Fender according to claim 1 whereinsaid textile chamber is made of a textile having a coefficient ofelasticity comprised between 5 and 15%, thus enabling said inflatablechamber to further inflate when heated.